North Yorkshire Horizons – Humankind

Tag: North Yorkshire Horizons

Launch of Drink Drug Hub website provides reliable harm reduction information for anyone in North Yorkshire

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A graphic with a black background and white text which reads "Drink Drug Hub"

Not every person who drinks or uses drugs develops harmful patterns of use – but drink and drugs can cause lots of people lots of problems.

By providing reliable and accurate information, we can help adults and young people make more informed decisions, understand how to access support, and potentially reduce the harms they face. We can help family and friends feel less alone. We can help professionals feel more confident to talk about drugs and alcohol and provide effective support.

Drink Drug Hub has been developed by North Yorkshire Horizons, the county’s community drug and alcohol service.

The website, which can be found at www.drinkdrughub.co.uk, presents an extensive but easy to use database of articles, videos and fact sheets. Resources cover everything from alcohol and prescription medications to illicit drugs like cocaine and heroin.

Anyone in North Yorkshire can also attend free training or awareness events, and practitioners can discover learning opportunities provided by other agencies across our region. Sessions will cover topics like an introduction to drugs/alcohol and administering naloxone, a life-saving medication that can reverse the effects of an opioid overdoses.

Prior to launching the site, people who use alcohol and other drugs, and experts in the field of treatment, recovery and harm reduction gave feedback on the content, effectiveness and usability of the website to North Yorkshire Horizons.

The Office for National Statistics recently revealed that 2021 was the worst year on record for both drug related deaths and alcohol related deaths in England and Wales. Equipping people with knowledge about substances is an important way to reduce the harms that drugs and alcohol can cause.

Louise Wallace, Director of Public Health at North Yorkshire County Council, said:

“Drink Drug Hub is a really important resource for our communities. It will help to equip people across North Yorkshire with reliable information and will also allow our communities to engage with awareness sessions delivered by experts, and practitioners working in our services to book onto and attend training to develop their own knowledge and skills.”

Lee Wilson, Regional Director at Humankind, the national charity which runs North Yorkshire Horizons, said:

“We believe that people deserve to have access to accurate and up-to-date information about the drugs they take, and that’s why our team have worked so hard to create Drink Drug Hub. We’re excited to launch this new resource, which we know can improve health outcomes in North Yorkshire, and potentially save lives.”

Matt Bee, Specialist Training Facilitator at North Yorkshire Horizons and Drink Drug Hub project lead, said:

“We know that people are often overwhelmed by the amount of information available online about alcohol and other drugs, and it can be difficult to know what sources to trust. Our goal is to make it easy for people to access reliable information verified by experts, so that they can be empowered to make the best decisions for their own health and wellbeing, and that of their loved ones.”

If you need free and confidential information, advice or support with your own drug or alcohol use in North Yorkshire, you can also contact:

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British Army extends funding for Project Reset

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A woman leads a presentation on the harms of alcohol and gambling with army personnel

Project Reset, a programme of education, intervention, and treatment for alcohol use and gambling aimed at soldiers in North Yorkshire – run as a collaboration between Humankind, North Yorkshire Horizons, and the military – has been funded by the British Army for an additional twelve months. 

The success of the project has led to an almost doubling of investment for 2023, which will significantly enhance the support provided to serving military personnel. 

Project Reset has also been recognised by the Defence Medical Services, specifically the Surgeon General, as a model for best practice. It now sits as a pilot under the Chief of Defence Peoples space for the consideration of a possible rollout across Defence services in the UK. 

While our Mil-SMART recovery programme will continue as a weekly support group available within the Catterick Garrison Community Hub and as a virtual offer, Project Reset focuses on harm reduction and prevention. 

It uses presentations to whole units around the dangers and consequences of alcohol use, gambling, and other addictive behaviours, while also educating people how these link to mental health, self-harm, and suicide. 

Working in partnership with Departments of Community Mental Health, Unit Welfare Officers, and military Medical Centres, the project has played a pivotal role in retaining soldiers who would otherwise have been discharged. 

Nicky Booth, Area Manager at North Yorkshire Horizons, said: 

“I’m delighted that Humankind has secured a full year of increased funding for Project Reset and Mil-SMART delivery. 

“This extension is an excellent opportunity to grow the current service and our collaboration with the armed forces further. It is vital that we continue to support our local military personnel by addressing the risks of alcohol use, gambling, and other addictive behaviours.” 

Ruth Hasney, Project Reset Facilitator and Recovery Coordinator at North Yorkshire Horizons, said: 

“I am so happy that the Project Reset contract has been extended and the funding increased. 

“This recognition demonstrates that we are aligned with the British Army in how much we value the support offered. We have worked so hard to achieve the outcomes the project has generated to date, and I am so excited to see how Project Reset can evolve in 2023.”

The increase in funding will allow Project Reset to provide:

  • A case worker for one full day per week of military-specific support to Unit Welfare Officers, allowing for additional one-to-one appointments.
  • A continuation of current provision with one case worker providing support to Catterick Garrison, including one Mil-SMART group per week provided face-to-face at the Catterick Garrison Community Hub.
  • Referrals to Humankind’s North Yorkshire Horizons recovery service where additional support is required for harmful drinking.
  • Attendance at health fairs promoting the project and raising awareness of the risks of harmful drinking and other addictive behaviours.
  • The delivery of presentations at welfare conferences and to units as required.
  • A Walk and talk support group in the Catterick area.
  • A Facebook peer support page, offering weekly updates, tips, and advice on coping skills and positive messages.

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Humankind’s community members travel over 1,000 miles together in celebration of Recovery Month

Jack Keery

Barnsley Recovery Steps, a Humankind service, on a recovery walk through Barnsley

Humankind has been celebrating the successes of people recovering from addiction by holding events throughout September to mark Recovery Month.

Recovery Month is a national event that celebrates the achievements of people who have sought treatment for drug and alcohol use.

Staff, volunteers, and people who use our services have joined together at a range of events, including walks, bicycle rides, community litter picks, and step-challenges to recognise the achievements of close to 30,000 people who access our recovery services each year.

North Yorkshire Horizons hiking

Speaking about the events, Humankind’s CEO, Paul Townsley, said:

“National Recovery Month is always a hugely significant time in our charity’s calendar, not only because we are able to celebrate the fantastic achievements of people who have accessed our services and thrived within them, but because those people have the opportunity to show others who may be struggling that recovery from substance misuse is both real and achievable.

“The collective effort from participants to amass over 1,000 miles in walks, bike rides, and many other events sends a strong message that we must end the stigma surrounding drug and alcohol issues, and instead celebrate those in recovery who are taking life-changing steps and aiming to maintain their sobriety.”

In total, our Recovery Month participants collectively travelled over 1186.9 miles, representing more than three times the distance from our head office in Durham to the location of our service furthest in the south, EDP in Devon.

As well as events to get active, Humankind’s services have also hosted graduations for those who have achieved sobriety and parties for those in recovery.

Forward Leeds, one of our drug and alcohol recovery services, hosted a recovery graduation at Elland Road with former Leeds United football player Jermaine Beckford and professional boxer Maxi Hughes presenting the ceremony.

Professional boxer Maxi Hughes and Jermaine Beckford at the Forward Leeds Recovery Graduation

In Sheffield, The Greens Recovery Focused Accommodation hosted a garden party in recognition of the achievements of tenants such as Greg Goodwin, who in the space of a year went from being in intensive care as a result of alcoholism to going sober and taking part in a 170-mile bike ride.

Other events featured in Humankind’s Recovery Month calendar included:

  • Barnsley Recovery Steps – 10-mile ramble
  • Calderdale Recovery Steps – outreach event in Halifax Town Centre, with public speakers, bands, choirs, and stalls
  • EDP Drug and Alcohol Services – Mount Everest Steps Challenge
  • Forward Leeds – Waterfront Recovery Walk
  • North Yorkshire Horizons – Yorkshire Three Peaks hike
  • South Tyneside Adult Recovery Service – Recovery Walks
  • Staffordshire Adult Recovery Service – Recovery Walks
  • The Greens Recovery Focused Accommodation – 170-mile Way of the Roses bike ride
  • The Greens Recovery Focused Accommodation – weekly community litter picks